What is it?

Sometimes we hear that patients do not have any pain; they are just having concerns with their posture and ability to walk.  Some find that they are losing their balance.   This is placing them at a risk for falls.  Or some say they have had a couple falls, but luckily have not had any serious injuries. 

​There are a few reasons that we lose our balance, particularly following an injury or as we age.    Our balance reflexes could be decreased due to lack of proprioception.   There may a be a disturbance in our vestibular system.  Or, simply,  general weakness may be the cause.

What can be Done?

There are standard tests that can be done to determine the cause of falls and lack of balance.   Once the cause is clearly determined a treatment plan is created to address your individual needs.   Assuming that joints have sufficient mobility, active exercises are used to increase the speed of your balance reflexes, proprioception and strength.  Proprioception is the awareness of your body in space.  Osteopathic manipulation may also be warranted to address issues of posture which can affect the body's musculoskeletal balance which otherwise could lead to pain and dysfunction.
 
Occasionally, vertigo, dizziness and poor balance is caused by a syndrome called Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo.   This is when the small crystals in your vestibular system stop working properly.   A simple exercise done with a trained vestibular therapist can correct this issue quickly and get you back on track in as little as one treatment.

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